The
Iowa Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights submits this
summary report, Race Relations and Des Moines’ New Immigrants, as part of its
responsibility to advise the Commission on civil rights issues within the state.

The
Advisory Committee invited a cross-section of community workers and government
personnel involved in services for new immigrants to make presentations at a
community forum held on April 21, 1999, in Des Moines. While many community
leaders respect newcomers and recognize their roles in the local community,
other residents are uncomfortable with them. Community feelings are mixed about
the new workers because they do not simply arrive to work; they also bring their
languages and distinct cultures with them.

A
state official provided beneficial information on the right to a court
interpreter for any party who does not understand English and is involved in a
legal proceeding in Iowa. The Advisory Committee, however, notes that even after
the Iowa State Legislature passed a law providing for the adoption of rules
governing qualifications of interpreters, there are complaints that the law is
not being implemented.

The
Des Moines refugee population was described as substantial and as a group that
is sometimes treated differently from the mainstream population by police and
service providers. Refugees have been reluctant to make formal discrimination
complaints because they fear retribution.

Community
advocates in Des Moines are helping new immigrants adapt to American society.
However, complex immigration laws and restrictive social services policies
sometimes do not allow immigrants access to services. Conversely, refugees in
Iowa enjoy a better status than economic immigrants. Because refugees are
fleeing political or religious persecution, they are allowed entry to the United
States if their application is sponsored by a U.S. citizen. Federal funds are
available for refugee resettlement needs.

One
reason given for the increased migration to Iowa is the low level of work skills
and language skills required by employers. These new immigrants do difficult,
necessary work for corporations but live in fear of apprehension by the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). An Iowa anthropologist has called
these workers a “shadow work force.” Further, the civil rights of these
workers and families cannot be assured as long as negative stereotypes and their
legal status deny them a full range of civil rights protection. Law enforcement
and immigration officials told the Advisory Committee they are doing the best
they can to enforce the laws with the resources available. The INS executes the
mandate of the U.S. Congress, which accordingly favors enforcement of laws over
the processing of applications for U.S. citizenship or residency.

The
Iowa Advisory Committee hopes that the information in this report will be
beneficial to Iowa residents who work with new immigrants and that it adds to
the body of knowledge collected by the Commission at the national level.